REMINDER: ACLS & PALS BOOK REQUESTS

We have been getting an increasing number of requests for ACLS & PALS books from hospital staff and have had some issues with consistency in handling such requests. Please CAREFULLY READ the instructions below and let Allison or Noreen know if you have ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNSURE ABOUT ANY PART OF THIS PROCESS. 

When someone calls or comes in to request an ACLS or PALS book (or any other item), COMPLETE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS BEFORE THE PATRON HANGS UP/LEAVES the front desk:

1. Check Sierra to confirm that the patron has a current Library account

              a. If an account is found with a matching name, check at least ONE OTHER identifying     detail - home address or barcode are recommended - to ensure that the account does not belong to someone else with the same name. To check barcode ask the patron to confirm his/her Associate ID or four by four

              b. If no account is found, you will need to create one. SEE IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS BELOW FOR COMPLETE ACCOUNT SET UP!

2. Place the patron on hold and check the shelf behind the desk to make sure the desired book is available; if so, take a copy back to the front desk with you to put on hold for the patron

              a. If no copies of the needed book are available, let the patron know that there is a waitlist    for the item and that NO GUARANTEES can be made regarding when one will become available. Provide Allison or Noreen with the patron's name, desired book, and pick-up/delivery preference (i.e. are they going to come here and get it or do they want it sent to their work location?). The patron will need an account in order to place a hold, so make sure this is complete regardless of current book availability. 

3. If the patron wants the item sent to their work location DOUBLE CHECK THAT WE HAVE THEIR COMPLETE AND CURRENT WORK LOCATION LISTED on their account. This means that we have both the hospital (MCE, MCW, MCSA, MCNA) AND the name or floor of the unit where they work (for example 'Emergency dept. or 3 North), then check the item out to the patron and give it to Allison with the first and last name and full work location. 

4. If the patron wants to pick the item up here, DO NOT CHECK IT OUT, but give it to Allison with the patron's name for a hold to be placed. 

CREATING COMPLETE PATRON RECORDS IN SIERRA

Full detailed instructions with screenshots of each field that should be included in a new account and how it should be formatted are in the printed Sierra manual at the front desk, they are in the GREEN SECTION of the manual. Please refer to this EACH TIME YOU CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT to ensure that ALL of the needed information is included in the proper fields.

REVIEW THIS SECTION OF THE MANUAL DURING YOUR SHIFT TODAY AS AN INITIAL REMINDER. REPETITION IS THE BEST WAY TOO LEARN. FEEL FREE TO CREATE A SAMPLE ACCOUNT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRACTICE; IT CAN BE EASILY DELETED LATER

A FEW VERY IMPORTANT AND FREQUENTLY MISSED PIECES FOLLOW:

1. LAST NAME IS ALWAYS LISTED FIRST IN SIERRA, for example 'Erlinger, Allison', NEVER Allison Erlinger

2. We MUST have A COMPLETE WORK LOCATION to send items to other sites. This means having BOTH THE HOSPITAL SITE AND THE NAME OR LOCATION OF THE UNIT. If the person works at a non-hospital site, for example a medical group or clinic, CHECK WITH ALLISON BEFORE ENDING THE CONVERSATION, as we cannot send items to all locations

3. UNIVERSITY ID AND BARCODE ARE TRICKY BUT VITAL:

             a. UNIVERSITY ID ALWAYS HAS 'mc' AT THE END REGARDLESS OF TYPE OF     PATRON

             b. BARCODE is IDENTICAL TO UNIV ID WITHOUT THE 'mc'

             c. FULL INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO USE FOR DIFFERENT PATRON TYPES ARE IN THE MANUAL, BE SURE TO CHECK EACH TIME

AGAIN PLEASE REVIEW THE GREEN SECTION OF THE SIERRA MANUAL TODAY AND REFER TO IT EACH TIME YOU CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT AND LET ALLISON OR NOREEN KNOW IF YOU ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNSURE ABOUT ANY PART OF THIS PROCESS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS DONE CORRECTLY SO THAT OUR LIBRARY USERS RECEIVE REQUESTED BOOKS IN A TIMELY MANNER.